By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Photo credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty
Palm Springs has long been a haven for retirees.
Carlos Alcaraz envisions it as a cornerstone for reinvention.
The two-time defending BNP Paribas Open champion is eyeing an elusive three-peat at Indian Wells while embracing a new identity as a player closing in on “serve-bot” status.
As the second seed, Alcaraz will kick off his title defense against either the in-form Frenchman Quentin Halys or an emerging qualifier.
If the tournament unfolds as anticipated, he’ll face Grand Slam legend Novak Djokovic in a thrilling quarterfinal rematch, rekindling their epic battles at the Wimbledon final, Olympic gold medal match, and Australian Open quarterfinals, where Djokovic rallied back to eliminate Alcaraz.
At just 21 years old, Alcaraz boasts an impressive 12-match winning streak at Indian Wells, hoping to join Djokovic and his idol, Roger Federer, in the elite club of players who have achieved a three-peat in this tennis paradise.
“I realize this feat has only been accomplished by two players in history,” Alcaraz remarked during his pre-tournament press conference in Indian Wells. “I’m here to embrace that pressure. My goal is to focus on enjoying the experience.”
“Every time I visit this tournament, I have such a wonderful time practicing and playing. Everything feels effortless here. My aim is simply to savor the tournament. I look forward to this event all year long. I’ll just go with the flow and see how things unfold, but achieving this would mean the world to me.”
Aside from his quest for a third consecutive title, Alcaraz is adapting to the newly faster surface in Indian Wells, aiming to refine his serve and ascend to “serve-bot” status.
A priority for Alcaraz this year: securing more reliable service holds.
Despite his ability to unleash serves exceeding 130 mph and masterfully place them throughout the box, Alcaraz only ranked No. 30 on the ATP Tour in first-serve points won (73 percent) last year. He finished No. 12 in service games won (85.4 percent)—a surprising statistic for a four-time Grand Slam champion.
In contrast, current world No. 1 Jannik Sinner dominated with a 91.4 percent win rate in service games and 79.3 percent in first-serve points last season.
Working closely with coaches Juan Carlos Ferrero and Samuel Lopez to streamline his serving technique, Alcaraz conveyed optimism regarding his second serve and a belief that his first serve “has room for improvement.”
“I’m feeling fantastic. I sense significant upgrades in my serving game,” Alcaraz shared with the media in Indian Wells. “I’m committed to developing my movement and serve because I know it can be exceptional.”
“I have great confidence in my second serve, considering it a solid asset. While my first serve could be sharper, I’m experiencing consistent progress. Sometimes in matches and practices, it doesn’t always feel quite right, and separating baseline play from serving becomes essential.”
This season, Alcaraz’s serve-holding percentage stands at 86.83, ranking him 14th on the ATP Tour and yielding a 75 percent win rate on first serves.
If the stadium court indeed plays faster this year, his capacity to control the initial shot post-serve will be vital as he works toward securing a remarkable three-peat and achieving “serve-bot” status.
“If my serve isn’t effective, you can play great tennis from the baseline without relying on it,” Alcaraz acknowledged. “Yet, I’m feeling great right now.”
“I’m genuinely pleased with my progress in serving, so I’m on the cusp of becoming a ‘serve-bot,’ I suppose.”
